Editor's note: This article has been changed to reflect new information about Museum of Boulder fundraising efforts.

A package of short-term capital programs aimed at developing cultural amenities and enhancing public safety got a step closer to the ballot Tuesday night when the Boulder City Council approved it 7-0.

The three-year, 0.3 percent sales tax would raise $27.6 million for lighting and cultural enhancements on University Hill, lighting and other improvements along the Boulder Creek Path, projects to kickstart the Civic Area Master Plan to revitalize central Boulder, new sidewalks and lighting at Chautauqua, public art, renovations at the Dairy Center for the Arts and a new Museum of Boulder.

"This package that we've had brought to us is a good blend of safety and community amenities," Councilman Tim Plass said. "We've talked about the Hill for a long time, and this a message that we're serious about this. The amenities for the Civic Center are a good start, though we need to make sure we're making that a safe area. Chautauqua, the Dairy Center, those are great amenities."

Other projects include:

$8.7 million for Civic Area improvements

$3.85 million for renovations at the Dairy Center for the Arts

$2.5 million for an underpass at Arapahoe Avenue and 13th Street

$2 million for pedestrian lighting on University Hill

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$1.5 million for pedestrian access and lighting at Chautauqua

$1.04 million for Boulder Creek Path lighting

$885,000 for other Creek Path improvements

$750,000 for an "event street" in the Hill commercial district

$700,000 for Eben G. Fine Park stream bank restoration

$600,000 for public art

$520,000 for irrigation and street trees in the Hill commercial district

City officials had dubbed it the "pay-as-you-go" tax to distinguish it from the more common capital bond programs, under which the city issues debt to do larger projects. These projects would be completed in the next three to five years as revenue from the tax is collected.

But Plass said the name was too bureaucratic, and the city should find a new way to market it that highlights the cultural amenities and safety improvements the tax will pay for.

Councilman Andrew Shoemaker recused himself from the vote because his wife was just elected to the Chautauqua board and some of the money would go to lighting and improved pedestrian access, possibly a sidewalk along Baseline Road, at Chautauqua. However, his wife will not take office until September and was not involved in developing the idea.

Councilwoman Suzanne Jones was absent.

The remaining council members voted unanimously to move the tax to a second reading. Another public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5. The council has until Aug. 19 to finalize its ballot items.

Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum said the cultural and safety elements of the package work together.

"If you are going to make serious improvements to the Civic Area, you need to make improvements to the connections, including making them safe," he said in reference to the Creek Path lighting project.

Members of University of Colorado student government spoke in favor of the lighting projects on University Hill and said they would educate students about the ballot item as part of a registration drive tied to the mid-term elections.

"One of the goals of student government is to improve campus climate and safety, and we can do this by increasing lighting on the Hill," Chelsea Canada told the council.

The Museum of Boulder project will provide $4 million in matching funds to support the move of the former Boulder History Museum to a new home in the Masonic Lodge building at Pine Street and Broadway. Those funds would be released once the museum has raised $2.5 million in private donations. Board members say they are confident they can open the museum with that amount and then raise the additional money to fund the full plan. Museum backers have already raised $1 million.

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